550. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health her views on whether the marketing, packaging and prominent retail display of vapes and snuff products are designed to attract children and young people; if she will introduce legislation requiring these products to be kept out of sight in retail outlets, similar to tobacco products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5396/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health: The focus of legislation regarding nicotine products is on reducing youth uptake. The draft Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill will include a number of measures to regulate nicotine inhaling products and other recreational nicotine products. These include:

• Extension of the minimum age of sale of 18 to all nicotine containing products.

• Restrictions on point-of-sale display and advertising for all nicotine containing products. Advertising will be prohibited all shops, and point-of-sale display prohibited in shops except for retailers who only or primarily sell these products.

• Restrictions on colours and imagery on nicotine inhaling product devices and packaging, as well as restrictions on the devices resembling or functioning as other products such as toys or games.

• Prohibiting all flavour descriptors and language other than basic flavour names for nicotine inhaling products.

• Limiting flavours in nicotine inhaling products to tobacco, with Ministerial powers to further amend this list via secondary legislation.

The Bill is in the final stages of drafting.